Domestic appliance



Aug. 9, 1960 R D. BREMER DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 3. 1958 INVENTOR.

Fig./

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Robert D. Bremer, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to GeneralMotors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb.3, 1958, Ser. No. 712,991- 6 Claims. (Cl. 219-37) This invention relatesto a domestic appliance and'more particularly to a clamp for pivotallymounting a surface heating unit to a range top.

The ease with which a surface heating unit is attached to a range topduring range assembly operations and'the manner in which the heatingunit is pivotally positioned are problems which Warrant considerableattention in functional range design. Since the heating unit must bepivoted, a simple, inexpensive bracket is desired which will support theheating unit at a point beneath the range top and also permit pivotalmovement of the heating element. Furthermore, food is often droppedbetween the coils of the heating unit and the housewife must raise orremove the burner to effect a cleaning operation therebelow. During thiscleaning, the heating element should remain firmly biased in its raisedposition. With the heating element in its normal horizontal positiona'rigid and solid base should be presented to the'cooking utensilsplaced thereon. For example, the heating element should bear tightlyupon its support spider and should resist lateral movement.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a surfaceheating element for a range "which is pivotally mounted in a manner toprovide positive positioning of the heating element when in a raised orloweredcondition.

It is an additional advantage of this invention toprovide a hinge clampfor a surface-heating element which will pivotally support and springbias the element in either a raised or lowered position.

A more Specific object is the provision of a hinge clamp with anintegral spring portion cooperating with a portion of the heatingelement to positively position said element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

:In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an electric range top showing a coiledheating element pivotally secured to the range top;

Figure 2 is a side sectional view, with parts broken away, taken alongline 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the spring clamp taken along line 33 ofFigure 2 showing the heating element in a horizontal or loweredposition;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 2 showingthe surface heating element in a raised position; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the integrally formed hinge clamp andspring finger.

With reference to Fig. 1, a range top is shown formed with an aperture12 adapted to receive a spiral heating element or burner 14. A trim ring16 is placed about the periphery of the aperture 12 to provide anornamental or finished appearance to the heating element assembly. Theheating element 14 is supported in a horizontal position on a spider 18,shown in Fig. 1 as nited States Patent 0 2 ,948,801 Patented Aug. '9,1960 having threespokes 19 but which, of course, may be of any suitableconfiguration. A terminal portion 20 of the heating element 14 extendsbelow the range surface 10 where it is pivotally mounted in a clamp,shown 'gem erally at 22. The clamp 22, in turn, is afiixed'toa'fiange 11on the underside ofthe range surface 10, as at 24. Where it is desiredto equip the surface heating element assembly with temperature sensingmeans, a sensing device 26 may project through an opening 28 in thecenter of support spider 18. A socket 30 is aflixed to the terminalportion 20' of the heating element to'receive a plug 34 supplyingcurrent to the heating element. A drip pan 36 may be disposed below theheating element-14 to catch any waste which happens to fall through thecoils.

The configuration and function of the spring clamp 22 may best beunderstood with reference to Fig.'5 wherein a pictorial representationof the clamp is set forth. The clamp 22 is comprised of a base section38and'an integral finger portion 40 reversely bent over the base section.Formed in a central portion of the base 38 is a channel or supportportion 42 having a raised central portion 44 to the outside of saidchannel. A slot 46, cut transversely in the channel 42, has a'narrowheating element positioning'central section 48 and somewhat wider endsections 50. Spring stock is used in forming clamp 22 so that apermanent bias is imposed by the finger 40 onthe outside or bottom ofchannel 42. Since spring stock is utilized, a slight crimping of theradius 52 creates an even'stronger bias between the finger 40 andchannel raised portion 44. Attachment apertures 54 are extruded andtapped to receive mounting bolts when the clamp is attached =to'th'erange top 10.

Attachment of the spring clamp 22' to the range surface 10 is throughan- L-shaped bracket56 having a range top engaging leg 58 and a springclampsupport leg.60. The range engaging portion 58 is'formed in a mannerto place the support leg 60 at right angles .to the terminal portion 20of the heating element. The bracket 56 is secured to thefiange 11 formedslightly below the range surface 10 and integral therewith. Apertures 62in dependirig portion 60 of the support bracket receive mounting boltswhich fasten the bracket 56 and clamp 22 in juxtaposition.

The function of the improved spring clamp will best be understood withreference to Figs. 3 and 4. Before attaching the bracket 56 to flange 11adjacent the aperture 12 of the range top, the terminal portion 20 issecured to the depending bracket support leg 60 by the clamp 22. To soassemble the channel 42 of clamp 22 is placed around the terminalportion 20 of the heating element. For purposes of longitudinallypositioning the terminal portion 20, a lug 64 is welded thereto. The lug64 is placed to project through the channel slot 46 in assembling theclamp 22 to support bracket 56. In this manner the narrow portion 48 ofslot 46 is utilized to closely position the lug 64 and thereby theheating element 14. Widened slot portions 50 allow for any warp in lug64 and thus minimize binding possibilities between clamp 22 and burnerlug 64.

With the surface heating element correctly assembled to the rangesurface 10, the clamp 22 is then in condition to perform the multiplefunctions of positive grounding of the electrical system and ofrotatable support and spring-biased positioning of the heating element14. With the element 14 in horizontal position (Fig. 3), one corner 66of lug 64 is biased by finger portion 40 to effect a tightly seatedheating element position. This permits the heating coils to rest firmlyon all of the sprockets 19 of the support spider 18. In addition, thepressure exerted between finger 40 and a corner 66 provides a positiveground for the heating element to the range cabinet. Where it is desiredto raise the heating element 14, as for a cleaning operation, theheating element is grasped and pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 4.In so doing, the corner 66 of integral lug 64 moves against the springfinger 40 until the flat surface 68 of the lug bears completely andevenly against the spring finger 40. The heating element, in thiscondition, is then held positively in a raised position, the springtension between lug 64 and finger 40 resisting any inadvertent topplingof the heating element. The center portion 44 of the clamp 22 has beenraised as a means to clear any weld flash which may exist around thebase of lug 64. It is also an aid in providing free pivotal movement forthe end portion within clamp channel 42. It is thus seen that thisinvention has provided a means whereby a surface heating element is heldpositively in either a raised or a lowered position, correctlypositioned in the range top aperture and effectively grounded with oneeasily formed clamp.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosedconstitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In an electric range, means forming a range top having an aperturetherein; a surface heating unit in said aperture and having a terminalportion extending below said range top; said heating unit being adaptedfor pivotal movement to a raised position and a lowered position; a lugon said terminal portion; integral with L-shaped bracket having one legsecured to said top and having its other leg adjacent said aperture; aclamp adapted to rotatably support said terminal portion on saidbracket; said clamp having a slot to receive said lug and an integralspring finger overlying said slot to bias said lug, whereby said heatingunit is selectively yieldably held in one of said raised position andsaid lowered position.

2. In a range, means forming a range top having an aperture therein; asurface heating unit in said aperture and having a terminal portionextending below said range top; a lug on said terminal portion; meansfor pivotally supporting said heating unit between a yieldably lockedraised position and a yieldably locked lowered position; said meanscomprising a bracket depending from said range top, a clamp adapted torotatably support said 4. terminal portion on said bracket, and a fingerengaging said lug to selectively and positively locate said heating unitin one of said raised position and said lowered position.

3. In a range, means forming a range top having an aperture therein; asurface heating unit in said aperture and having a portion extendingbelow said range top; a I

protrusion on said portion; means for pivotally supporting said heatingunit between a first pivotal position and a second pivotal position;said means comprising a bracket depending from said range top, a clampadapted to rotatably support said portion on said bracket, and a springfinger engaging said protrusion to selectively and yieldably lockinglylocate said heating unit in one of said positions.

4. A clamp for pivotally supporting and selectively positioning in ayieldably locked position a surface heating element having aprotuberance thereon; said clamp comprising a base section; a channel insaid base section for pivotally receiving said protuberance and meansintegral with said clamp engaging said protuberance for positioning saidheating element.

5. A clamp for pivotally supporting and selectively positioning in ayieldably locked position a surface heating element having aprotuberance thereon; said clamp comprising a base section; a channel insaid base section for pivotally receiving said element; a slot in saidchannel for receiving said protuberance and locating said element; andan integral spring finger section engaging said protuberance forpositioning said element.

6. A clamp for pivotally supporting and selectively positioning in ayieldably locked position a surface heating element having aprotuberance thereon; said clamp comprising a base section, a supportportion in said base section for pivotally receiving said protuberance;and means integral with said clamp engaging said protuberance forpositioning said heating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,508,552 Tuttle May 23, 1950 2,632,837 Andersen Mar. 24, 1953 2,754,402Pearce July 10, 1956 2,816,206 Eckbland Dec. 10, 1957 2,831,100 KellyApr. 15, 1958 2,834,863 Anderson et a1. May 13, 1958

